The Mio Project

[Mochan]

About time this thread made the crossover!
Originally posted «  on: May 13, 2010, 01:00:50 AM »


Okay guys, as you all know I just received my Mios in the mail today. Thank you to zpilipinas for making one of my dream projects start to fruition. 

Anyway.... my camera is not with me so I can't take pics at the moment unless I use my subpar cams (Which I won't). So I'll update this post later with pics.

But right now I'm gonna track the growth of the K701s because as you all know, these cans need like 1000 hours of burn or was it 1,000,000, not really sure you never know with HeadFi!

All I can say with definitiveness is this:

These Mios smell new and they don't sound anything at all like the set I auditioned at CBTL courtesy of bro Racky (theshade). In fact, this is how I remembered these cans sounded like when I first auditioned them at Audiophile (fresh out of the box) some 5 years ago.

As promised to Doc Egay here are my impressions:

- sounds like a harder to drive AD700 right now, but with more detail in the mids and further bass extension
- the "far out can't reach it" soundstage we experienced through the LD MkII and Keces/Master combo is nowhere to be heard.
- looks so prettttyyyyyy
- they drive really well with the Mustang. Needs only about 10 o clock at High Gain. That is how cool the Mustang is
- sounds like excrement on the E5. Yes, I tried.
- sounds godly on the Marantz 1090. When the right channel doesnt crackle anyway. Need to get that fixed (problem with my Marantz). But soundstage is still missing.

Anyway the burn in process has started. Been pouring it some white noise for the past few hours. Will pump it with pink noise later. And then run it through some DMB.

I can't wait for these to evolve into the "Miomon" that bro Racky has.

 

Post is now updated with pics.

[Mochan]

« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2010, 04:30:05 PM »

I was just playing "Swamp Fever" in Left 4 Dead 2 with the Mios on my PC, using my HeadAmp 4 plugged to the Auzentech Prelude. I am once again reminded how good CMSS Headphone is for playing FPS with 3D precision.

As gaming headphones the K701s are at least the equal of the AD700, which is widely recommended as *the* gaming headphone of choice. In fact I'd say they are superior. With just about 24 hours of burn in behind them, the K701 has a sense of space and airiness that the AD700 is unable to match. I am better able to create a 3D soundscape matching the visuals I see on screen using the Mios.

I plugged in the Air and the DT770 into the HeadAmp4 to switch in between for quick comparisons. It became quite clear to me that the K701 let me image the directions of sounds better than the DT770. Was about the same with the Air so far... with the added exception that the Mios really just sound "bigger" if a bit thinner.

I'm sure this will all improve with time.

Another thing I realized... man the Mios are damn uncomfy. Too tight. Must devirginize first before I can experience absolute pleasure. Having them on for an hour to get through Swamp Fever made me feel the tough clamping on my cheeks above my jaw line, this has to be remedied! I recall the HD650s were like this too, bending the headphones systematically got them in shape.

Will now deviriginze the Mios....

Be back guys. A labor of love awaits.

[Mochan]

« Reply #27 on: May 15, 2010, 11:25:30 AM »

Well, I came home from work today only to discover that the Mios I had plugged into my receiver to play white noise overnight didn't get their helping of burn in because someone turned the receiver off!

Ah well.

Will continue the burn in process now.

But while doing so... will listen to some music.

You know what? Screw those people saying the Mios are bass light. They never heard 'em through a Marantz 1090!  Mio plays the bass you fools! And left handed, too! No way these are bass light!

I'm currently playing some tracks from the album Lounge Couture and Hed Kandi Beachhouse 2009. And while it's not quite as romping as listening to these through the Monster Turbines, I can honestly say I'm not missing the bass at all. And this is on flat EQ. It's no DT770 but the bass reaches down it seems further than the HD650, but with slightly less impact -- but it's good enough even for a bass head like me. I guess the Mios just need a good amp to get the bass out.

In other news, the soundstage is still not quite there. It's far, far from where I remember it being. Sounds are still within reach. Can't wait for the soundstage to explode!

[Mochan]

« Reply #40 on: June 18, 2010, 04:17:49 AM »

Back during the first Atrium meet of the year, BoyM noted how awesome the Mios sounded out of the Clip+. Well lately I've been listening to them plugged into a simple DIY IC and into my iPod. You know what? I'm actually quite happy with how they sound this way. I think I've gone crazy. I've always said the amp insanity surrounding the K701 was the worst I had ever seen, but now I've gone crazy because, while I still get into audio bliss plugging it into the MP5 or the Marantz, I'm finding myself quite happy listening right out of the iPod HP out. Less bulk too when I walk around the house!

Now I understand why Mio listens straight out of her CD Player!

[Mochan]

« Reply #46 on: July 06, 2010, 12:26:17 AM »

Hey Marcus, have you worked it out with Joseph yet? I am finally receiving my stuffs tomorrow. Minus the Grado cable though. I don't know why the Grado cable is missing, apparently it wasn't sent in the shipment. =_=

Anyway back to topic, I have found an unbelievable synergy with the Mio's, on the cheap.

http://www.encore-usa.com/id/product/ENMAB-8CM

This is the "Poor Man's DAC" that .Ix discovered here:
http://headphiles.org/index.php?topic=2065.0

The "ENMA DAC" is a ridiculously cheap DAC with all the right features but most importantly the sound quality is boss! This is because it creates a more 3D-like soundstage that really makes the most out of the K701's huge natural soundstage. I tested it with some tracks during the King Maker meet and was shocked at how well it put the sounds around me, with lots of air and space.

The setup was Winamp playing my usual DMB FLACs -> ENMA -> MP5 -> HeadAmp4 -> K701

Playing "Dancing Nannies" the violins were floating somewhere to the right behind me out of reach, while the sax was pumping air softly just in front of me to the left maybe 5 feet away. Dave Matthew's was smack dab in the middle a few feet in front of me. The effect was very convincing moreso than any other DAC I have tried with the K701!

I also got similar results playing other tracks like Lover Lay Down, Warehouse and #34. Very, very impressive when you consider this thing costs only 1k locally.

[marcusd]

I am think I am somewhere between 30 and 50 hour burn in now for the 702's, used it last night to watch ahem 'clash of the titans'  that I am ahem borrowed from somewhere ... lol

with the encore and plugged straight into the encore, volume was too low. It seems driving the noirs via the encore is not its forte, so switched to the uDAC and the power came flooding back in (internal amp naturally helps there).

Since it is a movie and not music I have a whole new range of sonic parameters to judge and found it to be spot on for soundstage and separation.

is it possible the uDAC is a movie specialist with the 702's?

going to pick up an optical converter on the meet day, Sunday for testing the optical out on my macbook and udac - now that should be interesting.

anyway tonight is a pink and white noise night for about 5 hours... zzzzzzzz

[Mochan]

The Encore should have enough juice to drive the K70x by itself, but it's optimal to use the ENMA as DAC, then plug it into a bigger amp like your MkII. I didn't try it with the MkII but I got good results with the MP5 this way.

[marcusd]

The Encore should have enough juice to drive the K70x by itself, but it's optimal to use the ENMA as DAC, then plug it into a bigger amp like your MkII. I didn't try it with the MkII but I got good results with the MP5 this way.

It can drive it ok, but the volume is not as strong as the uDAC since the volume controls are direct from the PC for the ENMA, but only a slight issue since I am nto really buying it for its own inherent amping qualities, as you say, it is as a DAC that it shines best.

what time you arriving at eastwood Erwin? i wanna try and get there about 11am to avoid the rush and get prime socket location

[Mochan]

Ah!! Marcus, the ENMA had digital volume controls.   There are four buttons on the top, and the first two buttons are the volume controls. Believe me, the ENMA gets very loud!  I usually only keep at it at 2 clicks from the bottom. It's that loud.

[marcusd]

Ah!! Marcus, the ENMA had digital volume controls.   There are four buttons on the top, and the first two buttons are the volume controls. Believe me, the ENMA gets very loud!  I usually only keep at it at 2 clicks from the bottom. It's that loud.

oh I forgot  lol.. I have the uDAC stacked on top of them and my mind just gently forgot about the top of the ENMA.

ok big change tonight in testing lol.. no more white noise...

[Mochan]

You know one thing I've discovered with certainty? If you really want to experience the best of the Mios, you need to have two sets of cans. The Mios, and a very closed, very bassy can. These two are the perfect complement. If you listen to the Mios after coming from a closed, bassy can, you will really appreciate the airiness and gigantic size of the soundstage. A closed, bassy can really accentuates the strengths of the Mios.

This is why, I suppose, I will never opt for "One Can to Rule Them All" I will always opt for several mid-fi offerings to give me contrasts and variety. Headphones can really bring out the strengths of each other.

[marcusd]

You know one thing I've discovered with certainty? If you really want to experience the best of the Mios, you need to have two sets of cans. The Mios, and a very closed, very bassy can. These two are the perfect complement. If you listen to the Mios after coming from a closed, bassy can, you will really appreciate the airiness and gigantic size of the soundstage. A closed, bassy can really accentuates the strengths of the Mios.

This is why, I suppose, I will never opt for "One Can to Rule Them All" I will always opt for several mid-fi offerings to give me contrasts and variety. Headphones can really bring out the strengths of each other.

My strategy is now coming into place also... I have the k series and Hf2 for ying and yang home play and now searching for a new portable set of cans for outdoors and travel

I did some pink noise also last night.. boring as hell but hadnt done it in a while.

Hoping to hit 50 hours before sunday burn in time, though starting to loose track of how many hours.

[Mochan]

Take note that the HF2 won't bring out the K702's strengths the way a closed can will. But your QC3s should be good enough until something better comes along.

[Mochan]

Wow, ever since I got my Tung Sols, my Mios have been getting a *ton* of head time.  I haven't had this much pleasure with the Mios in a long, long time. The Tung Sols really made the Mios magical! The Mios sometimes felt a little too strident but with the Tung Sols the magical mix of mids and highs along with the warmth and fuzziness of the tubes is just about right, and the soundstage opened up even more on the already huge sound of the Mp5 and Mios. It's light, bubbly and sparkling!

Man I wish I had an ENMA with me right now, I wonder how the Tung Sols would sound with the ENMA? The headroom is just airier than ever! I am sure the ENMA's powers would make fireworks in that space!

[Za'afiel]

And then I quickly swiped the Mios off your paws. 

I'll continue listening to them out of the D12 and Millett MiniMAX with the high-gain tubes (12AE6). They sounded awesome at the last Bona meet.

Right now I'm listening out of the D12 as an AMP&DAC via USB, and here in this silent attic of mine, I can definitely say that my ears have grown accustomed to the sound signature. There is definitely bass presence and midrange. It's not as upfront as the RS1s, but just a bit pushed back. Very 3D-ish presentation. And here I thought the iBasso D12 would not be a good enough pair with the K701s.

Maximum volume on the first 10 seconds of "Also Sprach Zarathustra", Staccato 2, Nr. 12" from the Ultrasone Test CD: the drivers handled it with ease. A lot of headphones have the drivers vibrating at maximum offset during the introduction and hit their limits, causing an audible clipping sound. The Mios don't. I lowered the volume for the rest of the track but kept it louder than normal, still it stayed true with no distortions, but the last climactic part had me lowering the volume just a little. Amazing performance. This is truly a reference headphone.